MLB.com's Carrie Muskat has been covering Major League Baseball since 1981 and is the author of "Banks to Sandberg to Grace: Five Decades of Love and Frustration with the Cubs." You can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat. Here, she blogs about the Cubs.

3/5 Guzman, Gray doubtful for Opening Day

The Cubs may have more openings in their bullpen than they originally thought. Angel Guzman was to undergo an MRI on his right shoulder Friday. He’s not expected to be ready Opening Day. Guzman has been slowed because of discomfort in his shoulder. Jeff Gray also has been held back because of a lingering groin strain.

“Gray, he still feels it when he throws,” Lou Piniella said Friday. “We’re being precautious with him. I thought that by now we could have him throwing off the mound. He’s a little bit away yet.”

Guzman was projected as a possible right-handed set-up option for the Cubs. He hasn’t been close to throwing off a mound. Could he be ready by Opening Day?

“Not at all,” Piniella said. “Gray is starting to get on the ‘doubtful’ list — not doubtful, let’s call it the ‘borderline’ list.”

The leading candidate for the set-up job is Esmailin Caridad but GM Jim Hendry is looking.

“We’re doing no different than we always do,” Hendry said. “If there’s [a trade] to be made, we will.”

— Carrie Muskat

Share this:

Like this:

Related

1 Comment

I said yesterday that based on his injury history Guzman
wouldn’t be on the opening day roster. He seems to be a
guy that everyone is waiting on to stay healthy and I think
that he never will stay healthy.

Meta

The following are trademarks or service marks of Major League Baseball entities and may be used only with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. or the relevant Major League Baseball entity: Major League, Major League Baseball, MLB, the silhouetted batter logo, World Series, National League, American League, Division Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Game, and the names, nicknames, logos, uniform designs, color combinations, and slogans designating the Major League Baseball clubs and entities, and their respective mascots, events and exhibitions.